Key mechanism for clarinets and the like



May 18 1926.

A. LOOMIS KEY MECHANISM FOR CLARINETS AND THE LIKE Filed August 16, 1924 Patented May 18, 1926.

assess PATENT @EFIQE.

ALLEN LOOMIS, 0F ELKI-IART, INDIANA.

KEY MECHANISM FOR OLARINETS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed August 16, 1924; Seria1 No. 732,396.

The present invention relates to a key mechanism for wood wind instruments of the clarinet family, the characteristic of which, as concerns the present invention, is that when overblown to produce tones in the upper register, the tone produced by over blowing is the next odd numbered harmonic above the fundamental tone of the lower register, and not the octave above such fundamental tone, as is the case with some other wood wind instruments.

Certain other instruments of the wood wind class are like those 'of the clarinet family in that the tones produced in the upper register are other intervals than the first octave above the tones of the lower register emitted from the same tone holes. The principles of the invention which I am nowabout to describe are applicable to flutes, oboes and bassoons as well as to clarinets, wherefore I have entitled the invention as an improvement in keymechanism for clarinets and the like, intending by that title to include the above named instruments, all of which are instruments of the clarinet family, and also all others of the woodwind class which are like the clarinet in the characteristic mentioned in the preceding paragraph. These instruments are provided with a hole called, or serving as, the register hole, which is opened and closed by a key called, or serving as, a register key, for

controlling the emission of tones in the different registers; the register hole being closed when playing notes in the lower register and being open when playing a note in the upper register.

The particular embodiment of the invention which I have illustrated and described herein, has been designed for the clarinet, and will now be explained with reference to its application and use in that particular type of instrument; it being understood that this illustration and explanation are not intended to restrict the scope of protection which I claim.

Owing to the fact that the range between the fundamental note and the neXt odd numbered harmonic is eighteen semitones, in the instruments of this family, the players of these instruments are more seriously handicapped by the limitation in the number of their digits than are the players of instruments which overblow in octaves. IIeretofore, in order to reduce the difiiculty of playhave lCCOIIiPlISllGCl this result by providing a new hole for this B-flat, retaining the old hole of tne instrument for use as a register hole, andcombining with the A-natural key a floating lever mechanism of the character disclosed and claimed in my prior Patent No. 1,505,483, dated Aug. 19, 1924. In one view of the invention, the key mechanism which I have devised and applied to my present purpose is a special form of the mechanism claimed in said application, embodying the same fundamental invention, but with modifications adapting it to a special use.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a. part of the upper end of a clarinet having the present invention applied thereto in a manner to serve the special purposes above set forth.

In this and other views I have omitted for the sake of clearness, those keys and mechanisms which control other holes of the in strument and which have nothing to do with the particular invention here set forth;

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the complete mechanism showing the elements thereof resolved into a plane;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the ccntal pivot rod with the parts thereon;

Fig. l is a side elevation of the A-natural key;

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sections on the lines 5-5 and 6,6 respectively of Fig. 1

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures. 1 i

The body of the instrumentis designated by the numeral 10. 11 represents the stop-- per covering the new B-fiat tone hole at the instrument, 152 is a stopper cove the register hole, and 13 is the stopper covering the A-natural hole. In thus de; eating the particular notes, natural and Bdiat in the middle oi" the treble clef, I am describing a particular instrument to which I have applied this invention, and have not intended to exclude the application of the invention to other instruments in which the particular notes controlled by the mechanism may be different. The stopper 12 is carried byan arm 14'. secured to a hub or sleeve 15 which turns freely on a pivot rod 16 (shown dotted in Figs. 1 and 3,, supported by posts 17 and 18 on th. instrument body. The stopper 11 is carried by an arm 19 secured to a sleeve 20 which also turns freely on the same pivot rod. this rod for the purpose of the present descrip tion I may define as the central pivot red.

A lever 21, which I call a floating lever, is pivoted at 22 to an arm 23 secured to a sleeve 24 also turning freely on the ccntrl pivot rod. This floatinglever is articulated at to the arm 1st and at to the arm 19, connection being made conve ntly by ball-like extensions on the lever entering; complemental sockets in the arms, or other free sort of connection which will permit the lever and either arm to swing about axes respectively at right angles to each other, and at the same time enable the lever to apply force positively in either direction motion of the arms. It will be noted that the arms l-l and 19 turn about the pivot rod 16, while the lever 21 turns about the pivot 22 on rod 23, the axis of which is at right angles to the pivot rod 16. The floating lever also has freedom for a certain amount of movement endwise on the pivot 22, suiticient to permit either of its ent s to be raised or lowered while the other remains at a constant height.

A fourth arm 27 is secured to a sleeve which also turns freely on the pivot rod "t and carries a stud or hook 29 wits which is engaged a spring 30 secured in the post 17. The arm 27 ove ton e holes by rlies LllQ floating lever 21 between the pivot and the connection with the arm 1%, and the spring bears on the hook 29 at the side thereof which faces the floatin lever, whereby the arm 2? spring-pressed toward the instrument body and tends to hold both stoppers 152 and 11 closed upon their holes.

Another pivot rod 31 is mounted instrument between posts 32 and a: on this rod is rotatably mounted a sleeve 34: carrying a v 'jer arm which underlies the arm A key arm 36 is also secure, to sleeve 34; and extends partly around the instrl'unent, carryingat its end a key adapt cd to be pressed upon by the thumb of the players left hand. A light spring 3?, is nounted in post 32 and bears on a hook 37, projecting from sleeve 34:, to keep the wiper arm in contact with the carrier arm 52?). Although acting against spring 30 it is not powerful enough to impair the elficieucy ol the latter sprin The stopper 13 is carried by a key lever? having a finger piece 38, pivoted at 39 and equipped with a spring 40, of a character common in clarinets, which presses on the instrument body at the side of the pivot away from the stopper and so tends to hold the stopper closed. The same key is provided with an extension ll overlying the stopper l1 and carrying an adjustable abutment screw 4.2 arranged to bear on this stopper. Hence the stopper 11 normally closed also by the spring 40.

In describing the operation of the mecha nism, I will use the term depress and raise or words of similar meaning, to designate movement of a key or stopper toward the instrument body, and away from they body, respectively, without regard to the absolute directions in which the parts being; described move. lVhen the finger piece or key 38 is depressed, the stopper 13 is raised. but the stopper 11 remains closed. .Vhui the thumb key 37 is depressed, the wiper or cam arm is raised, thus raising the car rier arm 23 of the floating lever. It tl key 38 is left alone. at this time, the register hole is opened, since the closing once exerted on stopper 11 by the spring 40 is stronger than the. closing force e erted o spring; 30 through arm 27, floatin lever. and arm 14 on the stopper 12. But ll', when the thumb lever 37 is depressed, the 35% is depressed also, the stopper 1]. is opened and the stopper 12 remains closed, because then the pressure exerted by the arm 27 applied to that part of the floating l which is coupled to the stopper l2. it. when the floating lever mechanism is in the position last described, the key released, its more powerful spring; 10 can ts it to close the stopper l1 and open the s op per 12 through the medium of the tic lever 21. When the thumb kc spring 30 holds both stoppers ll and clos whether key 38 is press-co on, or not.

In playing the notes of the lower register the register hole is closed. The topmost note (ii-flat) 05 this register is obtained by opening the stopper 11, the register hole still remaining); closed, and this is done by pressing simultaneously on the keys 38 and Depression of the key 38 at the same time opens the stopper 13, thus giving proper resonance to the note B-tiat.

I have retained the trFl-l-reys o y the fore ger of the right hand or keys of the previously used ment, but I have combined them with my new mechanism in such a manner that when one of them is used in connectionwith the key 37 the register hole is opened in the old manner. One of the old trilhkeys shown is designated 43 and the stopper'as 44-. Between the new B-tlat stopper and the lever of the trill key is a lever mechanism con sisting of two arms 45 l6, and a sleeve l? to which they are connected, rotating on a pivot rod of usual construction. The arm 45 overlies one arm of the key lever 4344, and the arm to overlies the stopper 11. Hence when key 43 is depressed to open the stopper 4:4, it applies pressure on the stopper 11, preventing it from being opened when the key 38 and key 37 are depressed at the same time. lhis provision is made tor the reason that, when using one of these trilhkeys to trill on the note B-flat, it is essential to close the new B-flathole and open the old hole in order to produce the upper note of the trill in tune.

I have already indicated that the principles of the invention may be applied to other woodwind instruments as well as to clarinets. The manner of so doing and any adjustments or rearrangements necessary will be readily understood by those skilled in this art.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A key mechanism for wood wind instruments having a tubular body, pierced with lateral holes, one of which is a register hole and others are tone holes, stoppers for said holes, a floating lever construction coupled to the stoppers of the register hole and of one of the tone holes, a spring acting on said mechanism tending to close both stoppers, a finger key carrying the stopper of another tone hole and being constructed and spring-pressed to exert closing force on the first named tone hole stopper, and a key connected to the floating lever mechanism and arranged to exert force tending to open the stoppers to which said floating lever is connected.

2. In a wood wind instrument of the character described having a register hole and two tone holes for adjacent notes in the scale, stop ers for said holes, a heating lever articulated to the register hole stopper and to the tone hole stopper tor the hole of higher pitch, a carrier for said floating lever operable by a digit of the performer to raise said floating lever, a spring arranged to exert closing pressure at a point on said floating lever between its pivot and its point of connection with the register hole stopper, a key carrying the stopper for the tone hole of lower pitch and having an extension arranged to bear on the stopper for the tone hole or higher pitch, and a spring en aged with said last named key and arranged to exert closing pressure on the last named stopper superior to the force tending to open it when the first named key is pressed upon.

3. In a wood wind instrument a series of stoppers covering tone holes of different pitches, a single key lever carrying the stopper for the hole of lower pitch and arranged to'eirert closing pressure on the stopper for the hole of higher pitch, a register hole stopper, a floating lever connected to the second named tone hole stopper and to the register hole stopper, a carrier for said lever to which the lever is pivoted between its points of connection with said stoppers, a digit operated key for raising the floating lever and a spring arranged to exert depressing force upon that arm of the floating lever which is connected to the register hole stopper.

l. In a wood wind instrument a series of stoppers covering tone holes of different pitches, a key lever carrying the stopper for the hole of lower pitch a spring for closing said stopper, said lever having means to exert closing pressureson the stopper for the hole of higher pitch, a register hole stopper, a floating lever connected to the second named tone hole stopper and to the register hole stopper, a carrier for said lever to which the lever is pivoted between its points of connection with said stoppers, a digit operated key for raising the floating lever and a spring arranged to exert depressing force upon that armof the floating lever which is connected to the register hole stopper, such force however being less than that exerted by the first named spring tending to raise the register hole stopper, through the floating lever, when the floating lever pivot is raised.

5. In a wood wind instrument of the clarinet family, a combined tone hole and register hole key mechanism comprising stopper for the register hole and the tone hole of highest pitch, a floating lever mechanism articulated to both stoppers and digit-open atcd to open them and springpressed to close them, the closing spring being arranged to act on that arm of the floating lever which is coupled to the register hole stopper, whereby it tends to raise the tone hole stopper when the fulcrum oithe lover is raised, 1 and a spring-closed key tor another tone hole having means for exerting closing pressure on the stopper of the first named tone hole.

6. in a wood wind instrument of the clarinet family the combination with the usual tone holes and a register hole, of an additional tone hole'having the same pitch in thescale as the highest note of the normal lower register of the instrument, a digit-operated floating lever mechanism connected to the stopper of said additional hole and to the register hole stopper, said mechanism being operable to open the last named tone hole sto Joel and close the re 'ister hole sto l 1. I t;

per when the stopper tor the nextlower tone hole is opened.

'7. In :i wood wind instrument of the clarinet family the con'ihination with the usual tone holes and a register hole, of an additional hole having the same pitch in the scale of the highest note of the normal lower ister of the instrument, and a digit operated floating lever mechanism connected to the stopper of said additional hole and to the register hole stopper, said mechanism being operable to open the last named tone hole stopper and close the register hole stop-- per when the stopper tor the next lowe tone hole is opened, and to close the said additional tone hole stopper and open the register hole stopper by persistence of digital pressure on the said mecl'ianism when said lower tone hole is closed.

8. In a clarinet having a tone hole for the note iii-natural and a register hole, an additional hole for the note B-liat, a stopper for said B-fiat hole a spring-closed key for the JiL-Rtllilll'fll hole having a presser arranged to exert closing force on the ll-liat hole stop- 701 when the ilk-natural hole is closed, and a floating lever mechanism coupled to said 1%- iiat hole stopper and the register hole stopper, a digit key tor said floating lever mechanism and a spring cooperating with said key to close the register hole and open the B-fiat hole when the said hey is pressed upon and the A-natural key is also pressed upon.

9. In a clarinet having a tone hole for the note lit-natural and register hole, an additional hole for the note B-flat, a springclosed key for the r e-natural hole having a presser ar'anged to exert closing;- l orce on the ll-liat hole stopper when the lit-natural hole closed, a floating lever mechanism coupled to said B-iiat hole stopper and the register hole stopper, a digit key for said floatinglever n'iechanisin and a spring cooperating with said key to close the register hole and open the B-l'lat hole when the said hey is pressed upon and the its-natural key is also pressed upon.

10. In a wood wind instrument, a register hole stopper, a tone hole stopper, a floating; lever mechanism coupled to said stoppers, a spring pressed finger l-Ley having an ahutnicnt arranged to exert closing ioice on the first tone hole stopper w ien said hey is released, a second ringer hey controlling a third tone ho e stopper and connections between sait iird he and the first tone hole stopper for closing the latter when the said second he is pressed upon to open its hole.

11. In wind ii strument having a tubular body pierced with late a l hole ne of which serves a, a register hole, a key mechanism comprising stoppers, a floating lever connected to the register hole stopper and to one of the tone-hole stoppers, a spring aeting' upon one of said stoppers, a carrier upon which the floating lever is pivotally mounted, a second spring acting upon the floating lever to one side of the pivotal mounting, a digit operated key connected to the carrier, and a second digivoperated key tor overcoming the etlect ot' the 'tirst-inentioned spring.

12. A key mechanisi'n for wood wind instrun'ients having -i tubular body pierced 'ith late )al holes, one of which a. register hol and the others are tone holes, steppe s for said holes, a floating lever engaged witl'i the stopper of the register hole and with the stoaper of one ot the tone hole a carrier pirotaltv supported from the hi it of the instrument to which said floating;- 1 er is pivotcd between its points of eng .ent with the respective stoppers, and by which the 3d pivot oi? said floating lever is raised and loweret, spring; means arranged to apply pressure toward the instrumen; hoey on that irin Of the floating lever which engi the i H r ster hole stopper, and spring clcsed tone hole key arranged to apply; closing 'eson the tone hole topper with which no lever is engra ,l.

wood wind instrument having a 'ister hole and lateral tone holes, a 95 ev 'i'or said register hole and z u for one sad tone holes pivotallv' su ported from the ius' i \1; bed; provision for movement indeptinlently of one another, a second tone hole lac ing means for applying closin the before named tone lever coupled t; t

mod ins 'rniaent.

ment body men l l. In a wood hotly tube pierced with and a lateral re ster l lever for the register l lever for a tone he hav n a lateral to 0 hot a nearing lot or connecte L at ,v

operated means fo arising said lever coupled thereto 2 L oint between its points i, of connection w 3* he said he levers,

si ient means arr-an ed to a pplv ciosi i oresof connection with the said key levers, re-

silient means an anged to apply closing pressure to the register hole key lever, a spring closed digit operated tone hole key having means for applying pressure to the before named tone hole stopper key, another digit operated tone hole key, and means operated by said key when pressed upon by the performers finger for closing the first named tone hole stopper key.

In testimony Whereo'i I have affixed my signature.

. ALLEN LOOMIS. 

